Method of refining petroleum and petroleum derivatves.



N0. 640,9!8. Patentd Ian. 9, I900. A. KAYSER.

METHOD OF REFINING PETROLEUM AND PETROLEUM DEBIVA I'IVES.

(Application filed Aug. 25, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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PATENT METHOD OF REFINlNG PETROLEUM AND PETROLEUM DERIVATIVES:

srncrnrcnmon areas as of Letters Patent No. 640,918, dated January 9, 1906.

Application filed August 25, 1899. Serial No. 728,478. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADOLPH KAYSER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of Refining Petroleum and Petroleum Derivatives, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of refining petroleum and petroleum derivativesfor instance, illuminating or kerosene oil and has for its object to free such oils from the sulfur compounds and similar objectionable ingredients which render the oil ill-smelling and impair its burning and illuminating qualities.

My invention consists to that end in treatingthe oil-vapors withcarbon monoxid,(CO.) Briefly stated, the petroleum or oil is distilled and the resulting vapor is mixed with carbon monoxid or a gaseous mixture,which is largely composed of carbon monoxid-for instance, generator or producer gas-and subjected to a suitable high temperature. The carbon monoxid apparently breaks up the sulfur compounds or changes them in such way that they can be eliminated by the subsequent treatment with sulfuric acid, (11 80 which is carried on inthe usual way.

The accompanying drawing represents in sectional elevation and in a diagrammatic way the general features of a simple apparatus by which my invention can be practiced.

A represents an oil-still of any ordinary or suitable construction, and a the pipe through which the oil-vapor escapes from the'still.

B represents a gas generator or producer of any suitable construction, which is charged with carbonaceous fuel, and in which a gaseone mixture is generated by the incomplete combustion of the fuel, which mixture consists largely of carbon monoxid diluted by neutral gases-for instance, nitrogen, carbon dioxid, watery vapor, (to. The gas so generated escapes through a pipe I) and passes through a scrubber C to a pump D, by which it is delivered through a pipe 01 into the vaporpipe a.- The oil-vapor and the dilute carbonmonoxid gas commingle in this pipe and pass together through a coil F, which is arranged in a furnace or oven G, so that this coil can be heated to the desired temperature. The

lower or tail end of this coil connects with a condensing-coil H of any suitable construction in which the vapor is condensed.

This apparatus may be modified in many Ways Without departing from my invention, and is shown mainly in order to facilitate the explanation of the invention.

Assuming that kerosene-oil is to be refined, the oil is placed in the still and distilled. The resulting oil-vapor is mixed with the dilute carbon monoxid gas, and the mixture is then subjected to heat in passing through the heating-coil F. The carbon monoxid contained in the gas is the active ingredient. The ni'- trogen, which is also present, is inert and is merely a diluent. The carbon dioxid, which is also present to some extent, is reduced in the heating-coil to a greater or less extent to carbon monoxid. The hydrogen, which is usually present to some extent, is not objectionable when the percentage is small, while a large percentage of hydrogen is detrimental and should be avoided. It is therefore not desirable to decompose steam in the producer or to use a fuel which liberates hydrogen such, for instance, as soft coal or wood; but it is advisable to use coke or charcoal for generating the gas. It is quite likely that the action of carbon monoxid upon the sulfur compounds in the oil produces carbonyl sulfid,(GOS,) which gas dissolves in the oil. The effective action of the carbon monoxid upon the oil-vapor takes place at a temperature of about 200 centigrade and higher, and the fire under the heating-coil should therefore be so regulated that the mixture of gases is heated to the necessary temperature in pass ing through the heating-coil. It is best to so regulate the temperature that the gases and vapor when they reach the exit of the heating-coil are from 25 to 50 centigrade hotter than the boiling-point of "thehydrocarbon under treatment. The gases and vapors pass from the heating-coil to the condenser,w'here the oil-vapors are condensed. The oil so produced is then treated with sulfuric acid in the usual Way and is free from sulfur and other ill-smelling compounds and possesses excellent burning qualities.

If crude petroleum is distilled, the light distillates, such as naphtha and gasolene, which pass over first do not require as much carbon monoxid for their purification as the heavier illuminating-oils which pass over later, because the sulfur compounds pass over mostly with the heavier vapors. The proportion in which the gas is mixed with the vapor can be readily regulated by regulating the speed of the gas-pump. A volume of gas equal to about thirty times the volume of the oil in its liquid state is sufficient for oils which contain a large percentage of sulfur compounds, the gas being figured as pure carbon monoxid. The gas actually used contains the carbon monoxid greatly diluted by indifferent gases and is several times larger in volume than the theoretical Volume of gas figured as pure carbon monoxid. An excess of gas is neither objectionable nor advantageous so far as I have been able to discover. The temperature of the vapors in the heatingcoil should not be raised so high that decomposition or cracking of the hydrocarbons takes place.

The foregoing method is exceedingly simple and cheap and is very efficient in desulfurizing ill-smelling oilsfor instance, those from the oil-fields of Ohio and Canada. This method not only removes the objectionable odor of such oils, but also improves the burning qualities and does away with the tendencyof these and other oils to form a black deposit on the lamp-chimney.

I prefer to conduct the carbon monoxid directly into the vapor-escape pipe of the still;

but this is not essential, as similar results are obtained by conducting the gas into the liquid in the still, when the gas bubbles up through the liquid and commingles with the Vapors above the liquid and passes off with the vapors to the heating-coil.

I claim as my invention- 1. In the method of refining-ilhsmlling or sulfur-bearing petroleum, or petroleum derivatives, the herein-described step which consists in distilling the same by the application of heat to the still, mixing carbon monoxid with the oil-vapor, and heating the mixture of oil-vapor and carbon monoxid to the-temperature necessary for causing the carbon monoxid to react upon the objectionable compounds in the oil-vapor, substantially as set forth.

2. In the method of refining ill-smellingor sulfur-bearing petroleum, or petroleum derivatives, the herein-described step which consists in distilling the same by the application of heat to the still, mixing carbon monoxid with the oil-vapor, and passing the mixture of oil-vapor and carbon monoxid through a heating-coil, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 23d day of August, 1899.

AD OL'PH KAYSER. 

